Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings: Waiver-Wire Targets for Players on Injury List
The NFL's injury list through two weeks reads like a who's who of fantasy football superstars, with Tua Tagovaliloa, AJ Brown, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle all missing time in the third week of play.
Their absences will deal huge blows to managers looking to take commanding leads in their respective leagues, but there are plenty of options available that can make up for the points that fantasy teams will miss out on.
From a veteran quarterback revived by new coordinators, to a journeyman running back who has consistently proven himself as a backup thrust into tough situations, to a dynamic rookie wide receiver who took the preseason by storm, these are three waiver wire targets for injury-riddled teams.
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
If you were skeptical of Derek Carr as a fantasy asset after his three-touchdown performance against an outmatched Carolina Panthers defense in Week 1, his 243-yard, two-touchdown performance against an infinitely better Dallas Cowboys defense should have eased all suspicion.
Carr and the New Orleans Saints offense under new coordinator Klint Kubiak has taken the league by storm through the first two weeks of the season and fantasy managers in need of a quarterback in the wake of injuries to Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa should jump at the opportunity to add Carr to their rosters.
Carr is tied with Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield for most passing touchdowns in the league with five and is averaging 221.5 yards per game. His quarterback rating of 142.4 is the best in the league and he is eating up big chunks of the field when he does complete a pass, averaging 11.4 yards per attempt on 39 completions through two games.
He has weapons, too, with Rashid Shaheed developing into a deep threat that can sprint pass any defender, and Alvin Kamara looking like the Pro Bowl player out of the backfield that he was at his finest.
Carr has averaged 22.05 points per game according to FantasyPros and is somehow still available in 41 percent of Yahoo and a staggering 96 percent of ESPN leagues.
D'Onta Foreman, RB, Cleveland Browns
Foreman took over the backfield for the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, playing 38 percent of all snaps, including 59 percent of all rushing snaps, in the team's 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This is after not receiving one carry in the team's 33-17 loss in the season opener against Dallas.
It is not the first time that Foreman has exceeded expectations to take over the starting running back job. He has done so the last three years, spelling injured runners in Tennessee, Chicago, and Carolina to emerge as the featured back.
Expect the same in Cleveland moving forward.
His numbers against the Jags were nothing special (14 carries, 42 yards) but fantasy managers should expect those numbers to improve as he sees more opportunities to establish himself, especially against a New York Giants defense giving up an average of 26.5 points to opposing running backs.
The Giants have allowed 380 total yards to opposing backs, meaning there will be plenty of chances for Foreman to take advantage of that squad and emerge as a legitimate fantasy threat.
Jordan Whittington, WR, Los Angeles Rams
The loss of Puka Nacua to the IR due to a knee injury during the season opener in Detroit, and the ankle injury suffered by Cooper Kupp in a Week 2 loss to the Cardinals, leaves the Los Angeles Rams missing both of their starting wide receivers.
Still, Matthew Stafford is fourth in the league in passing yards and will look to take his shots against a San Francisco 49ers defense that has yielded an average of 41.45 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers to start the season.
With his two favorite targets out of commission, rookie Jordan Whittington is a worthwhile addition to your team and a FLEX play.
The first-year player and former Texas Longhorn finished with two receptions for 22 yards against Arizona and should take over the slot for Kupp. He showed flashes during the preseason, encouraging head coach Sean McVay to state "he's going to be a factor."
Expect that to begin Sunday against the Rams' hated divisional foe, if for no other reason than it must.
How Stafford evades the pass rush to find his receivers will be the bigger question.
Regardless, Whittington is worth an add and stash, with potential upside being huge over the next five-to-eight weeks.
All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted.